Sebastopol Municipal Code Ch. 2.52 Fire Department

The Fire Department shall be known and designated as “Sebastopol Fire Department” and shall be composed of such number of members as provided for by the City Council.

The membership of the Sebastopol Fire Department shall consist of men of good moral character and bona fide residents of, or regularly employed within, the City of Sebastopol, in good physical condition and not less than 21 years or not more than 55 years of age when admitted to membership. Upon written recommendations of the Board of Directors of the Fire Department, the City Council may, by majority vote, waive any of the foregoing requirements of membership. The Board of Directors of the Fire Department may, by majority vote, appoint members to the Fire Department and shall have the right to terminate the appointment of any member of the Fire Department, except for the Fire Chief, First Assistant Chief, and Second Assistant Chief.

The failure of any member to appear for practice drill at least twice a month or when otherwise called by the Chief of the Fire Department shall be just cause for dismissal from the Department.

The officers of the Sebastopol Fire Department shall consist of a Chief, First Assistant Chief, and Second Assistant Chief who shall be appointed as follows:

A. The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the City Manager. His termination shall be in accordance with the personnel ordinance (Chapter 2.60 SMC) and regulations of the City of Sebastopol.

B. The First Assistant Chief and Second Assistant Chief shall be appointed by the Fire Chief with the approval of the City Manager.

C. The First Assistant Chief and Second Assistant Chief shall be appointed for one year or until their successors are appointed. Vacancies in all of the above positions shall be filled as provided in subsections A and B of this section.

The Board of Directors of the Sebastopol Fire Department shall consist of the Chief, First Assistant Chief, Second Assistant Chief and three members to be elected from the Fire Department.

The Board of Directors of the Sebastopol Fire Department shall prescribe the duties of the officers and members of the Department. The Board of Directors shall establish policies for training equipment and other necessary functions of the Fire Department and may make recommendations to the City Manager.

The Board of Directors shall designate a Secretary and Treasurer. The Secretary of the Department shall keep regular minutes and shall record all actions taken by the Board of Directors. A copy of the minutes shall be delivered to the City Clerk within 30 days after approval of the Board of Directors.

Election of the three members of the Department to the Board of Directors shall be done annually by the Department at the first meeting in April of each year. A majority of the members present shall constitute a quorum and a majority vote of all of the members present at such regular meetings shall constitute an election to the Board of Directors.

The Chief shall have the normal duties imposed upon the Chief of the Fire Department including the inquiry into the cause of every fire occurring in the City of Sebastopol and supervision of the records thereof. He shall aid in the enforcement of all fire ordinances and cooperate with other department heads of the City of Sebastopol. He shall sign all certificates authorized by the Board of Directors of said Fire Department and shall have full charge of all members of the Fire Department in case of fire or any alarms. He shall have the authority to suspend any officer or member of the Department for disobedience of his orders. He shall report the action at the next meeting of the Board of Directors who shall take such action as they deem appropriate. It shall be the duty of the Chief to preside at all meetings of the Fire Department.

The Board of Directors may enact such bylaws for the regulation and conduct of their meetings as they desire not inconsistent with this chapter and with State law.

In the absence of the Chief, the First Assistant Chief shall assume the duties of the Chief; in the absence of the First Assistant Chief, the Second Assistant Chief shall assume the duties of the Chief. The Chief or his substitute shall be on duty and on call at all times. In the event of the Chief’s absence from the City, he shall appoint one of his assistants to have charge of the Fire Department during his absence. The Assistant Chiefs shall notify the Chief in the event of their absence from the City.

The City Council by resolution shall determine the compensation of the officers and members of the Fire Department.

Ordinance No. 490 and No. 503 and all other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.